Three components of excellent middle grades teacher preparation programs include foundations (a broad liberal education and the knowledge base upon which the teaching profession rests), teaching fields (depth beyond the basics in some areas of academic inquiry), and middle grades specialization (experiences specific to learning to function…

Discusses how to meet elementary school student and staff needs for computer access with a hub of networked computers in the library media center. Topics include types of use, including word processing, desktop publishing, curriculum support, and multimedia presentations; scheduling; assigning staff responsibilities; and suggested allocation of…

Describes how Oyster Bilingual School's (Washington, DC) two-way Spanish-English language plan functions in its sociopolitical context. It is noted that this plan is part of a larger identity plan aiming to promote social change by socializing children differently from the way they are socialized in mainstream US educational discourse. (46…

A variety of options for integrating service learning into the college curriculum is outlined, including: fourth credit option; introductory service learning courses; courses linking service and leadership; optional or required course component; significant course requirement; core curriculum component; graduation requirement; disciplinary…

Examined whether training teachers in cooperative learning provided them with greater capacity to meet needs of at-risk students. Found that cooperative learning training enhanced professional development and reaffirmed the need to ensure student academic achievement. (SD)

Describes an undergraduate class activity where students write a letter of substance (thoughtful argument supported by facts) to someone they feel has a direct impact on the environment. Future assignments include replicating this process on e-mail. Includes a brief discussion of environmentally related Web sites. (MJP)

Compares the success of lexical statistics, content analysis, and function words in determining the true author of "The Federalist." The function word approach proved most successful in attributing the papers to James Madison. Lexical statistics contributed nothing, while content analytic measures resulted in some success. (MJP)

This study of British primary and secondary teachers and higher education faculty examined teachers' and administrators' responses to government reforms in preservice teacher education. Results indicated that predictions of collapse and major disruption have not materialized, but that systemic instability and fragility raise questions about…

The magnitude of juvenile violence calls for interventions that are part of a multifaceted, long-term approach toward violence prevention. This article outlines two versions of a school violence prevention program guided by developmental principles, including support and challenge, significant role-taking experiences, guided reflection, a balance…

Recalls the experiences of a group of high school social studies educators who traveled to Japan for an educational conference. Although impressed by the dedication and seriousness of the pupils, the group also was struck by the limited and outdated facilities. Includes many observations refuting stereotypical assumptions. (MJP)

Results of this magazine's annual rating of colleges and universities are reported in articles about rising college costs, the college selection process, the new honors programs, the top 25 national universities, attitudes of college seniors about security and success, the top 25 liberal arts colleges, top regional institutions, top…

The growth experienced by Middlebury College (Vermont) in the 1980s brought stature and satisfaction. However, rising costs in the early 1990s resulted in more strategic planning and some retrenchment, focusing on enhancing the institution's excellence in certain liberal arts areas, gradual enrollment increases, cost and price containment,…

Classifies and discusses five stress variables affecting the mental health of Chinese students living in Taiwan. These include interpersonal problems, academic problems, health/living problems, financial anxiety, and environmental problems. Although detrimental to mental health, these factors exerted little influence on physical health or…

Reports on a study that evaluated the progress of limited-English-proficient students, focusing on the time required to exit LEP programs and on the reading and mathematics achievement of students who move on to monolingual English classes. Findings reveal that bilingual education is producing native-born Americans whose language skills are so…

Reports on an economic empowerment model that focuses on the household economy and the resources required by households for the production of their livelihood. Conceives of household economies as integrating the moral economy of social relations with the exchange economy based on money transactions. (MJP)